Biden stumps at Terra

November 5, 2012

FREMONT - With the election two days away, Vice President Joe Biden spoke Sunday at Terra Community College, urging Ohio voters to re-elect President Barack Obama.

Biden highlighted some of he and the president's accomplishments of the past four years including: helping to create 5.4 million new private sector jobs, helping to rescue the automobile industry, expanding benefits for medicare, helping to send 3 million more working class people to college due to Pell Grants and ending the war in Iraq.

He also said the government owes the people who served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan more opportunities when they come back from overseas.

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PHOTO?BY?PAT?GAIETTOVice President Joe Biden shakes hands after speaking Sunday at Terra Community College.

"They're the finest group of warriors in the history of this country," Biden said. "We have one truly sacred obligation, to protect those who we send to war and to care for them when they come home."

Biden was critical of presidential candidate Mitt Romney said his campaign is "shameless," and said a recent ad running in Ohio claiming Obama bankrupted Chrysler to sell it to Italians was "absolutely callous."

He said the ad is playing on the fears of people who work in the automobile industry. He also said GM and Chrysler both "denounced" the ad and said it was untrue.

Biden said this advertisement is indicative of Romney's poor character.

"You all saw a glimpse of Romney's character when he thought no one was looking when he said 47 percent of you are unwilling to take responsibility for your lives," he said. "Character is the most important ingredient a president must possess to lead a great nation and lead the world. And it is absolutely clear who has character, and who does not have character."

Teresa Langley of Fremont said Biden's speech was "awesome."

Langley, who said she is supporting Obama and Biden in the election, said the most important issue that Biden touched on during his talk was women's health care.

One of the topics Biden touched on during his speech was women's rights, including health care and equal pay.

Biden was critical of Romney's stances on planned parenthood and pregnancy being listed as a pre-existing condition.

Jill Biden, the wife of the vice president, also spoke at the event. She highlighted education, military support and women's right to health care as key issues in the election.

"I'm a woman who is involved in this election because I care the direction of our country," she said. "I'm seeing Joe and Barack stand up for our rights and our freedoms, every single day."

Jeff Murphy of Green Springs said Biden was very emotional.

Murphy, who is a libertarian, said he attended the event because he wanted his daughter to see the vice president speak. Murphy said while he is not for or against Obama and Biden, he said he was happy he had to opportunity to see that many people passionate about politics.

"I think it's important to see how our democracy works," Murphy said. "It's important to show our children how government works."

The vice president closed his speech by saying how important winning Ohio is to he and the president recapturing the White House.

"We are coming back, we only know one way, forward," Biden said. "That is the American way. We need you all. We need you to win Ohio, and if we win Ohio, we win this election."